Air Conditioner Models and Generators

Padgett · 06-09-2015, 02:00 PM

Been running tests with my AC and both a 2000W (peak) generator and a 2800W (peak).

My '06 TM came with a Coleman 9203C series AC. The issue has been starting the AC compressor reliably.
Fan takes about 10A to start/3A run
Compressor takes about 33A to start and 9A to run
Compreaaor LRA 58.4

By introducing a time delay on the fan I was able to have the compressor to start reliably with both generators, even with the Honda EU2000i in ECON mode.

Neither started reliably on thermocouple switch action. No idea why. Yet.

Have found that Coleman makes two other AC units, the 11,000 btu 8632 series with 44 LRA and the 13,500 btu 8633 series with 48.3 LRA.

I would suggest that anyone needing AC while dry camping and less than 3,000W peak generator power consider one of the two latter if needing a new AC.

Tests were at sea level and 88-90F temperatures. Hgher elevation/temperature may need more power.

**OregonTrail** · 06-09-2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padgett

Been running tests with my AC and both a 2000W (peak) generator and a 2800W (peak).

My '06 TM came with a Coleman 9203C series AC. The issue has been starting the AC compressor reliably.
Fan takes about 10A to start/3A run
Compressor takes about 33A to start and 9A to run
Compreaaor LRA 58.4

By introducing a time delay on the fan I was able to have the compressor to start reliably with both generators, even with the Honda EU2000i in ECON mode.

Neither started reliably on thermocouple switch action. No idea why. Yet.

Have found that Coleman makes two other AC units, the 11,000 btu 8632 series with 44 LRA and the 13,500 btu 8633 series with 48.3 LRA.

I would suggest that anyone needing AC while dry camping and less than 3,000W peak generator power consider one of the two latter if needing a new AC.

Tests were at sea level and 88-90F temperatures. Hgher elevation/temperature may need more power.

My family has been following your AC/generator saga closely because we also purchased the same HF Predator portable generator and we have the same model AC. We are hoping to be able to use the generator for several trips in July and August. Our goal is to just be able to cool off a little in the hottest part of the afternoon after some outdoor activities.

Last weekend, we installed the SPP6 hard start capacitor according to instructions and tucked it in next to the run capacitor. We are currently running the generator through the required break in hours. When that is done, we'll give it a go. We live close to sea level and usually use our TM at lower elevations so we thought we might have a shot at success. The generator was reasonably priced and useful for other things and we felt it was worth a try.

Hope this eventually works out for all of us!

Padgett · 06-09-2015, 09:58 PM

I have heard that changing to 10w-30 Mobil 1 will help after the breakin. Have about 10 hours on my replacement. 1st one failed but I had purchased the service contract & HF just replaced it with a new one.

Did your have a start capacitor (small black). If so did the SPP6 replace it or are both in parallel ?

**OregonTrail** · 06-10-2015, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padgett

I have heard that changing to 10w-30 Mobil 1 will help after the breakin. Have about 10 hours on my replacement. 1st one failed but I had purchased the service contract & HF just replaced it with a new one.

Did your have a start capacitor (small black). If so did the SPP6 replace it or are both in parallel ?

Since heat is the enemy of these little engines, we decided to drain the oil that came in the generator and replace it with synthetic right away. We are about 10 hours into our break in, as well. So far, it starts with one pull and runs great.

We did have a start capacitor in our AC. After searching the internet for answers, we concluded that the start capacitor should be left in place and the SPP6 should be installed to the run capacitor and in parallel with the start capacitor. This is apparently what Supco recommends.

http://www.loveyourrv.com/installing...r-conditioner/

From the comments section of this article:

"I was 'one the phone' with a Supco rep last week for about 10 minutes and during that conversation I asked him *IF* one was supposed to disable the original start cap and install the SPP6 in its place OR install the SPP6 'in parallel', and his response was to INSTALL IT IN PARALLEL.....

In response to my questions, I was told that, in addition to 'leave the stock start cap in place', that (a) the SPP6 ***WAS*** 'THE' best cap to use (NOT the SPP6E; though many people do) and (b) that 'polarity' (defined here as which wire one connects to 'red', etc. did not matter (SEEMS to make sense to me).He went on to say that 'they' (at Supco) were quite surprised at the surging interest by RVers in 'start caps' to enable them to (hopefully) have more success at firing up A/C units without having to have 'Big Generator' capabilities."

We are not experts and we are not trying to come up with some ingenious new fix. We just hope this simple mod will make it possible to use this generator. Like you, we will not carry dual units or a generator that weighs any more or costs any more than this one does.

tentcamper · 06-10-2015, 11:58 AM

Try turning off the DC converter circuit breaker when you start the AC. I had a camper that in the drive the AC would sometimes trip the 20 amp breaker for the garage service if the battery was charging. It never trip if I turned off the breaker to the DC converter. I think it depended on the charging load. You will still have lights powered from the battery. They may dim a little when the the power to the DC converter is switched off.

If this solves the issue. Maybe a relay or some relay logic for the DC converter 120V AC feed wire. You could control it by your delay circuit or the 120V output from the stat?? Maybe you could get real slick with the relay logic design and only turn off the DC converter during the fan delay??

**OregonTrail** · 06-10-2015, 12:18 PM

Thanks very much! We will add turning off the DC converter to our bag of tricks.

klpauba · 08-11-2015, 04:35 AM

OH NO!!!

I just got a Harbor Freight coupon in my email inbox that has a coupon for the Predator generator ... $399.

I don't think I can resist that deal!

**Bill** · 08-11-2015, 06:26 AM

Check the sound rating, and be sure you understand dB-speak. According to the specs, anyway, this one is considerably noisier than the Honda. Not as loud as a contractor generator, of course.

Bill

Padgett · 08-11-2015, 08:56 AM

Well sorta. I did record the Predator to be about 3 db noisier than the Honda (industry standard for quiet) and the Westpro seemed a touch quieter than the Honda (but the same on the meter @ 20 feet.

The difference is mainly the larger (125cc) motor but with the AC running the Honda is at about 90% of rating and the Pred at 65%. Inside the coach, the AC fan is louder than the gens.

The issue is that for the Pred to reliably start my Coleman at Sea Level, a soft start device was needed.

Also the Pred only has a 90 day warrenty, the 2 year service contract was another $130 so the real price is $429 which is still a very good deal.

ps the 20% off coupons I am seeing now exclude generators.

**OregonTrail** · 08-11-2015, 12:15 PM

We've now used our HF Predator 2200/2500 portable generator with our soft start modified air conditioner multiple times this year. It's worked great every time.

As far as the noise is concerned, we camp at sporting events with others using generators. Our Predator is slightly louder than a single Honda 2000. However, it seems less noisy than a pair of them, which is what most other people have to carry and use to run their air when camping without hookups.

So far we are very happy with this set up. We will be using it again over the next few days in predicted temperatures of over 100 Degrees. We would be scrambling to find a hotel right now without it.